Walking doll



May 20, 1941. w WALTER 2,243,043

WALKING DOLL Filed Dec. 20, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.2

y 1941; H.- w. WALTER 2,243,043

WALKING DOLL Filed Dec. 20, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 20, 1941 UNITED? PATENT OFFICE Application December 20, 1938, Serial No. 246,878

3 Claims. (-1. 46-105) The present invention relates to mechanical toys and in particular to bipedal figures such as walking dolls and similar objects. The toy is equipped with means for operating the leg members thereof to cause them to move back and".

forth, simulating the ordinary human walking stride.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an operating mechanism for such toys which will operate the leg members and cause the toy to be moved over a table or similar supporting surface while maintaining the toy in a straight line and in an upright position.

While the principal object of the invention has been pointed out, other objects will be more ap parent from the specification when taken in connection with the drawings which form a part of this application and in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view in elevation of the figure of a doll and the mechanism for operating the doll having the outer cover plate member I0 removed.

Fig. 2 is a rear view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a distended view of the several plates including the side plate I6, the leg operating member 8, cover plate Ill, and the securing nuts 9'.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view in elevation of the foot 5 showing the holding means I2 for the supporting rollers I4 and I4.

Referring to the drawings in detail the device comprises a frame having side plates I6 and I6. Within and supported by the frame is a motor I8. This motor is usually in the form of a coiled spring which may be wound by a suitable key 20. The energy stored up in the spring is transmitted to the balance wheel 22 by the gear wheels 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, and 40. The balance wheel is adapted to be rotated at high speeds for maintaining the figure in a straight line and in an upright position.

In order to simulate the walking motion, the shaft 25 supporting the gear 26 extends outwardly beyond the outer surface of the plate members I6 and I6 and is adapted to receive the crank 42 and 42' which are oppositely disposed to each other.

As the structure and the operation of the mechanism are identical on both sides of the frame, only one side will be described in detail.

A plate I is adapted to be located adjacent the outer frame member IS. The plate being supported outwardly from the side I6 by the shoulder members 44 surrounding the pins 45. This plate is also provided with an opening 46 for providing space for the rotating cam member. The plate is further provided with elongated slots 48 which register with the pins 45 on which the plate is guided. These slots provide for a limited movement of the plate along the frame I6. This plate is still further provided with a horizontal slot 50 having an off-set adjacent its center and having its front end curved slightly upwardly and in the opposite direction of the said off-set for receiving members 52 and 52' which extend inwardly from the leg plate 8. The upper edge of the plate I is formed with the same contour as the bottom of the slot 50 on which ride the inwardly extending members 54 and 54 located adjacent the top of the leg plate.

The leg plate is provided with a slot in which moves a member 42" extending outwardly from the cam member 42. The leg plate extends downwardly beyond the lower portion of the frame and figure and is connected to the leg member 9 by any convenient means.

Over the leg plate is a face plate I0 adapted to hold the plate I and the leg plate 8 in operating position. The plate is secured to the frame by the posts 45 and the nuts 9'. The object of the plate I is to support and designate the movement of the leg plate 8.

Referring to the foot 5 as shown best in Fig. 4, it is provided with a front wheel I4 and a rear wheel I4. The wheels are adapted to rotate in only one direction. In order to accomplish this cavities 62 are provided above and adjacent the rear side of the wheels. Within the cavities are located clutch members I2, which in this embodiment are steel balls. When the wheels are moved in the opposite direction the clutch members move downwardly and form a wedge between the wheels and the side of the cavities which prevent the wheels from turning.

In operation the spring I8 is wound by the key member 20. Its potential energy is transferred to the balance wheel 22 through the gear chain. The shaft 25 is rotated at a relatively low speed and the crank 42 being secured to the shaft 25 is likewise rotated. The member 42" extending outwardly from the cam 42 describes a circle. The slot in the leg plate is slightly shorter than the diameter of the circle proscribed by the member 42, therefore the leg plate will be moved in the direction of the slot a distance equal to the difference between the radius of the circle and have the length of the slot 60. This difference is substantially equal to the length of the slots 48 within the plate I.

By this arrangement, as the crank 42 is rotated the leg plate is moved forwardly and backwardly. Also the plate is moved upwardly and downwardly for a short distance as the cam passes through its vertical axis. As the leg plate 8 approaches its forward limitation the members 52 and 54 located on one side of the plate will be moved into the off-set portions 10 of the slot 50 and the off-set ll in the upper surface of the plate 1, and the members 52 and 54' on the opposite side of the leg plate 8 will be moved about the curvatures l2 and 13 causing the leg plate to be tilted slightly upwardly when the plate approaches the front end of the slot 50. As the leg member is attached to the leg plate a tilting and alternately lifting of the leg gives the figure a swaying or rocking motion whichsimulates a natural human stride.

As the legs of the figure move forwardly, the wheels allow the feet to be moved in a forward I direction but the feet are prevented from moving backwardly by the clutch members I2 wedging the wheels !4 and I4 preventing them from turning. I

By means of the rapidly rotating balance wheel 22 the figure will maintain an upright position while balancing itself and continue in a straight line.

Themechanism is of such a design that it can easily be concealed within the body of a doll or similar figure. It is preferable to locate the motor at the top of the mechanism and allow the balance wheel to be located in the lowest possible I portion of the body.

Vfhile the invention has been described an illustrated in a particular form it is not intended that it be limited to this particular description of use as the scope of the invention is best defined in the following claims.

I claimf p V 1. In a walking bipedal figure having aframe adapted to be embodied in said figure, a motor, a pair of oppositely disposed cranks driven concurrently by the said motor, a pair of elongated leg plate members disposed at each side of the said frame and adapted to be moved horizontally by the said cranks, a vertical slot located within each leg plate member for receiving the said cranks, the said slots being slightly shorter than the crank displacement whereby the leg plate members are moved vertically at a point substantially central of their horizontal travel, means associated with said leg plate members for maintaining the members in a vertical position through a substantial portion of their horizontal movement and a balance wheel operated by said motor for maintaining the said figure in an upright position.

2. In a walking bipedal figure having a frame adapted to be embodied in said figure, a motor, a pair of oppositely disposed cranks driven concurrently by said motor, a pair of elongated log plate, members disposed at each side of thesaid 7 frame and adapted to be moved horizontally by -the said cranks, means for moving each of the slightly upwardly at the end of theirforward ,an upright position.

horizontal travel and a balance wheel operated by said motor for maintaining the said figure in HARRY W. WALTER. 

